how can I capture the screen data sheet from netwrork analyzer?

[Cuhao]

Hi All!

Could you help help me this! I want to capture the screen data from network analyzer, and save it to my PC. How can I do that with LabVIEW 8.0?

[Chris_R.]

Hello,

It all depends on your device.  What type of network analyzer do you have?  (Make, model, bus type (enet, gpib, serial etc.))  How are you currently monitoring the data on the bus?  If you can log data to a file, LabVIEW can easily open and read from that file.

Chris R.

Applications Engineer

National Instruments

[Cuhao]

Hi chris!

I would like to thank you for your reply. My device model is HP 8722A, I use the USB-GIPB cable to control that instrument. Let me ask you this ( I don't know much how to use LabVIEW ) Is there any way I can capture the whole screen to PC( including Markers, Marker values...) what ever shows on the screen I like to capture them to the LabVIEW graph? because my Network Analyzer does not have the floppy drive. so I want to be able to copy it to my computer.

Message Edited by Cuhao on 03-01-2006 03:42 PM

Message Edited by Cuhao on 03-01-2006 03:42 PM

[Chris_R.]

Hello,
Do you know if the 8722A is similar to the 8722B or C model?  We have a LabVIEW driver for those, but the A model is not listed.  Click here to go to the driver download site.  Even though your instrument may not be on the list, the driver may still work with your instrument, so I recommend downloading and installing it to see if you get anything. 

When you want to capture the whole screen, what exactly do you mean?  Do you want to capture an actual screenshot of the display of the analyzer or do you just want to capture all the data in digital format and send it into LabVIEW? Do you need an excel type file?  Are you seeing the display on the instrument itself or a user interface panel program on your computer?  If on your computer, is it LabVIEW or a different software program?  I am sorry, but I am not familiar with your instrument or how it works, but hopefully we can get this figured out for you!

Chris R.

[Cuhao]

Hi Chris!

I know my Boss bought the old network analyzer, so I really have hard time with it. Yes! I meant I want to capture the actual display of the network analyzer's screen to LabVIEW XYGraph. Can I do that, because I wrote some programs that I can see the shape of the RF filter that I am measuring, but I don't see any markers that show on the graph like they show on the network analyzer's screen. Thank you.

[Chris_R.]

Hello,

Unfortunately, I am not sure if you will be able to get an exact copy into LabVIEW.  Are you able to get any data into LabVIEW from it? You said you wrote a program and can see the shape of the RF filter.  Is this in LabVIEW?  If so, we may be able to play with the properties of the graph in LabVIEW to get what you need.  I am not sure what the graph looks like on the analyzer so I am not sure if I can help you get it exactly as needed.  What types of markers does the graph have?  Are they on the curve or on the axis?

Chris R.

[Cuhao]

Hi Chris!

Thank you very much again!! You are really patient Man. Please be more patient with me! hahaha... so like you said, I don't think I can get what I want to get, I wonder if I could see the shape in the LabVIEW's graph and data table on the side, that would be enough for me,  because right now I can only see one MARKER at the time, there are 5 MARKERS on the network analyzer. I would like to see them all, you know what I mean? forgive my English! Please try to understand! I really appreciat that Chris! Right now I can run the sweep and be able to see the graph and one MARKER only, I want to create the table that can show all 5 MARKERS, How can I do that Chris? what block should I use to indicate the table? Once again I thank you very much Chris.

[Robert M]

Cuhao,

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by marker.  How many plots do you have on the graph?  Plots are different lines or channels of data.  Do you have five plots and want to see a cursor (marker) for each one?  You can add cursors by right-clicking on the graph, selecting "Properties" and going to the "Cursors" tab.

[Cuhao]

Hi Robert!

There are 2 channels (2 plots) on the network analyzer. Marker indicates the frequency that I set it up. there are 5 markers in network analyzer. For example. Marker 1 and marker 2 are the Passband which simply means Marker 1 indicates point A,  Marker 2 indicates Point B. I am not sure that people call that Cursor or not?!  

[Robert M]

Hi Cuhao,

It sounds like cursors will work for you.  Have you had a chance to play around with them?  They are fairly customizable and should be able to serve as your markers.  Please let me know if your markers need any features that the cursors do not provide.